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SINGLE-ENGINE PISTON

Piper PA-28

3 models from FAA type certificate data sheet 2A13. Every figure below is quoted from the sheet. Open any “Source” to see the words it comes from.

THE DATA SHEET

Authority
Federal Aviation Administration (United States)
Sheet
Type Certificate Data Sheet 2A13
Revision
64
Date
September 18, 2023
Holder
Piper Aircraft, Inc.
Licence
US Government work, public domain (17 U.S.C. 105)

Open the sheet on the FAA Dynamic Regulatory System (opens in a new tab)

Earlier revision. This is revision 64 of the data sheet. A later revision exists that we have not checked yet.

Performance figures (stall speeds, take-off and landing distances, climb, cruise and fuel burn) are in the aircraft's flight manual (POH/AFM), which we cannot reproduce. Always use the flight manual for the aircraft you fly.

This is a United States Federal Aviation Administration sheet. We show it as a US certification document, not as an Australian or New Zealand rule. Units are the sheet's own: pounds, US gallons and quarts, and knots or mph as stated.

How we copied the sheet. Quotes are from our stored text copy of the sheet, taken from the text layer of the FAA's online viewer. We rebuilt lines from the text positions, joined wrapped lines, marked wide gaps between table cells with |, removed page headers and footers, and replaced symbol-font characters with the symbols they print as. Check the original sheet before relying on any figure.

Models not shown. The sheet covers 18 models in 27 sections. We include the PA-28-161 Warrior II (first section), the PA-28-181 Archer II and the PA-28R-201 Arrow III. The Cherokee, later Warrior and Archer sections, turbo and seaplane models are not added.

Choose a model

Showing the PA-28-161.

SPEC SHEET

Piper PA-28: PA-28-161

Warrior II, sheet section XVI-A

The sheet's heading for this modelModel PA-28-161 (Warrior II), 4 PCLM (Normal Category), 2 PCLM (Utility Category)

Source for the model heading

XVI - A. - Model PA-28-161 (Warrior II), 4 PCLM (Normal Category), 2 PCLM (Utility Category), Approved October 22, 1976

Compare the PA-28-161 with another aircraft

Engine

Engine
Lycoming O-320-D3G or O-320-D2A
Source for Engine

Engine | Lycoming O-320-D3G with carburetor setting 10-5135, 10-5009 or 10-5217, or Lycoming O-320-D2A

Rated power
160 hp
Source for Rated power

Engine Limits | For all operations, 2700 r.p.m. | (160 hp)

Engine speed limit
2,700 rpm
Source for Engine speed limit

Engine Limits | For all operations, 2700 r.p.m. | (160 hp)

Propeller
Sensenich 74DM6-0-60The sheet also lists a second Sensenich propeller.
Source for Propeller

Propeller and Propeller Limits | Sensenich 74DM6-0-60

Fuel and oil

Fuel capacity
50 US gal≈ 189 L (converted)
Source for Fuel capacity

Fuel Capacity | 50 gallons at (+95) (2 wing tanks)

Usable fuel

Not in the type certificate data sheet

Oil capacity
8 US qt≈ 7.6 L (converted)
Source for Oil capacity

Oil Capacity | 8 quarts at (+27.5) (6 quarts usable)

Weights and loading

Maximum weight
Normal category2,325 lb≈ 1,055 kg (converted)
Source for Maximum weight, Normal category

Maximum Weight | Normal Category: 2325 lb.

Utility category2,020 lb≈ 916 kg (converted)
Source for Maximum weight, Utility category

Utility Category: 2020 lb.

Seats
4normal categoryThe sheet allows fewer in the utility category.
Source for Seats

No. of Seats | Normal Category: 4 (2 at +80.5, 2 at +118.1)

Baggage limit
200 lbnormal category only≈ 90.7 kg (converted)
Source for Baggage limit

Maximum Baggage | Eligible Normal Category only: 200 lb. at(+142.8)

C.G. range
Normal category: (+83.0) to (+93.0) at 1950 lb or less; (+87.0) to (+93.0) at 2325 lb
Source for C.G. range

Center of Gravity Range | Normal Category (+83.0) to (+93.0) at 1950 lb. or less (+87.0) to (+93.0) at 2325 lb.

Airspeed limits

Never exceed speed (Vne)
160 kt IAS
Source for Never exceed speed (Vne)

Airspeed Limits | Never exceed | 160 KIAS

Maximum structural cruising speed (Vno)
126 kt IAS
Source for Maximum structural cruising speed (Vno)

Maximum structural cruising | 126 KIAS

Manoeuvring speed (Va)
at 2325 lb111 kt IAS
Source for Manoeuvring speed (Va), at 2325 lb

Maneuvering at 2325 lb. gross weight | 111 KIAS

Maximum flap extended speed (Vfe)
103 kt IAS
Source for Maximum flap extended speed (Vfe)

Flaps Extended | 103 KIAS

Reference

Datum
78.4" forward of the wing leading edge (straight wing), or of the inboard intersection of the straight and tapered sections (semi-tapered wings)The sheet gives both forms and does not say here which wing each model has.
Source for Datum

Datum | 78.4" forward of wing leading edge (straight wing only). 78.4" forward of inboard intersection of straight and tapered sections (semi-tapered wings).

Data pertinent to all models: datum. FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 2A13, revision 64 (superseded revision). This part of the sheet covers several models. Open the sheet (opens in a new tab)
Certification basis
CAR 3 effective May 15, 1956, including Amendments 3-1 and 3-2The sheet adds later regulations for this model.
Source for Certification basis

PA-28-161: CAR 3 effective May 15, 1956, including Amendments 3-1 and 3-2;

Certification basis. FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 2A13, revision 64 (superseded revision). This part of the sheet covers several models. Open the sheet (opens in a new tab)

COCKPIT

The PA-28-161 limits on an airspeed indicator

Where the sheet gives them in knots, the dial shows Vne as a red line, the caution range from Vno to Vne as a yellow arc, a green tick at Vno and white ticks at the flap limit speeds (Vfe). The sheet gives flap limits, not instrument markings, and the stall speeds where the green and white arcs start are not in it.

PANEL LAYOUT

Classic six-pack

These are example panels drawn by us. They do not show the panel fitted to any Piper PA-28. Only the airspeed markings come from this model's data sheet.

  • 406080100120140160180VfeVnoAIRSPEEDKNOTSAirspeed indicator
  • 2020101010102020Attitude indicator
  • 01234567891013hPaALTFEETAltimeter
  • LRTURN COORDINATOR2 MINNO PITCH INFORMATIONTurn coordinator
  • N36E1215S2124W3033Heading indicator
  • 0.5.5111.51.522UPDOWNVERTICAL SPEED1000 FT/MINVertical speed indicator
  • 05101520253035RPM×100Tachometer
  • 075150OIL°COil temperature
  • 060120OILPSIOil pressure
  • EEFFLRFUELFuel quantity
  • 0510SUCTIONin HgSuction gauge
0 kt

What the dial shows

  • Red line: never exceed speed (Vne)160 kt IAS
    Source for the red line

    Airspeed Limits | Never exceed | 160 KIAS

  • Yellow arc: caution rangeFrom Vno to Vne, 126 kt IAS to 160 kt IAS
  • Green tick: Vno, top of the green arc126 kt IAS
    Source for the green tick

    Maximum structural cruising | 126 KIAS

  • White tick: Vfe, a flap limit speed103 kt IAS
    Source for the white tick

    Flaps Extended | 103 KIAS

  • Marks are drawn at the sheet's speeds in knots IAS.
  • White tick marks the flap limit speed (Vfe) the sheet gives. The sheet gives flap limits, not instrument markings, so the flight manual says where this aircraft's white arc ends.
  • The low ends of the white and green arcs are stall speeds. They come from the flight manual, so we have left them unmarked.

The other instruments are drawn at rest and are not linked to this aircraft. Learn what each instrument shows in the cockpit explorer.

For learning only. Not for flight planning or use in flight. Figures are certification limits from Federal Aviation Administration, Type Certificate Data Sheet 2A13, Revision 64, retrieved 31 October 2026. Conversions marked “converted” are our own arithmetic. No manufacturer images are used. The instruments are drawn by us. Back to all aircraft.